ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A judge has declared a mistrial for the man charged with shooting and killing Adams County Deputy Heath Gumm due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to an order released from the Adams County District Court, a mistrial was declared due to the safety issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Court finds that the events resulting from COVID-19 and the People’s decision not to pursue the death penalty at this point in the trial warrants a mistrial. The recent events unfolding around COVID-19 created a sudden and overwhelming emergency beyond the control of the Court. While these events stem from one source, the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting events are disparate and have individualized impacts on this case. Additionally, the People filed a motion to withdraw the death penalty from this case on March 30, 2020.”
Dreion Martise Dearing, 23, was charged with four counts of murder, including two counts of first-degree murder of a police officer.
He also faces charges of burglary, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and assault.
Investigators say Gumm and other deputies were called to a residential area north of Denver on Jan. 24, 2017, for a reported fight.
They chased a man who ran behind the house, where he pulled out a handgun and fired.